Mail-box.



W. H. JOHNSON.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION Hum NOV. 17, 1908.

Patented May 18, 1909.

ATE

WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON, OF COLGATE, NORTH DAKOTA.

MAIL

No. 922,147. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 18, 1909.

Application filed November 17, 1908. Serial No. 463,040.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TVVILLIAM HENRY J OHN- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Colgate, in the county of Steele and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawmgs.

This invention relates to improvements in mail boxes for rural delivery service.

One object of the invention is to provide a metal box of this character which will be sim ple, strong, durable and comparatively inexpensive in construction and a door which may be locked to prevent its contents from being stolen.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved indicator for a mail box of this character.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved mail box; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sec tion; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the plane indicated by the line 33 in Fig. 2.

In the drawings 1 denotes the body of the box which is of substantially rectangular form with a rounded top 2. It is preferably constructed from four pieces of sheet metal numbered, respectively 3, 4, 5, 6. The piece 3 is bent upon itself into U-form to provide the top and sides of the body, and its lower edges are riveted, as shown at 7, ,to upstanding flanges 8 formed by bending the longitudinal edges of the piece or section 4, which latter forms the bottom of the box. The piece or sheet forms the closed end of the box and has its bottom edge and portions of its side edges bent at right angles to provide flanges 9 which are riveted to the end edges of the pieces 3', 4. The edge of the up per portion of the end piece 5 is bent inwardly upon itself, as shown at 10, and around an upstanding flange 11 formed on the end of the curved top portion 2 of the piece 3, as seen in Fig. 2. The other piece or section 6 forms the other end of the box and it is provided With a surrounding flange 12 which is riveted to the end edges of the pieces 3, 4, as shown. In said end piece 6 is formed an opening 13 which permits of access to the interior of the box and which is adapted to be closed by a swinging cover or door 14. The latter is united along its bottom edge by means of hinges 15 to the portion of the end rounding the side edges of the door and also its curved top is a flange 16 adapted to receive the upper portion of the end piece 6 when it is swung to a vertical position to closethe opening 13.

17 denotes the swinging member of a hasp for securing the door or cover 14 in its closed position. The stationary member 18 of said hasp is secured, as at 19, to the flange 16 and its swinging member has an opening to receive a U-shaped bolt 20 which is arranged in the top of the body and serves as a keeper. A padlock or lock of any description may be engaged with the keeper bolt or loop 20 to secure the hasp 1 7 in engagement with it and thereby lock the door 14. I

21 denotes an indicator mounted upon the box and adapted to be used for showing whether or not there is mail matter within the box. It consists of a sign plate 22 secured by rivets 23 to one end of an arm 24 which is connected by a ivot bolt 25 to one side of the body. Saic indicator may be swung to its vertical position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 when mail matter is in the box and downwardly to its dotted line position shown in said figure when the box is empty, thereby indicating to the mail carrier, the owner of the box or other persons whether or not there is mail matter within.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention provides an exceedingly simple rural delivery mail box which will be strong, and durable and may be produced at a comparatively small cost.

Having thus described the invention-what is claimed is:

The hereindescribed rural delivery mail box constructed of sheet metal and having a body piece bent into U-shape to provide its top and sides, the curved top portion of one end of said U-shaped piece being formed with a radially projecting flange, a bottom piece formed upon its longitudinal edges with up standing flanges engaged with and secured to the bottom edges of the sides of the box, a rear end piece having upon its bottom and lower portion of its side edges inwardly projecting flanges secured to one end of the bottom and side walls of the box, the upper piece 6 beneath the opening 13, and sur-' edge of said end piece being bent over thel piece of the box, hinges uniting said cover to 10 radially projecting flange on the curved top the front end piece, and a fastening means of the box, a front end piece having surfor said cover.

rounding flanges secured to the front end of In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my the box and formed With an opening, a clo- I signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

sure for said opening in the front end piece, YVILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON. said closure having its side edges and curved Witnesses: top formed With inwardly projecting flanges H. P. RICE,

to fit over the front end of the U-shaped body K. W. HAVILAND. 

